davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

Somehow, ] don't quite know how, ]
managed to push this free Of him, and his
venerable head, all covered in green slime,
like that Of y yellowish Bacchus with ivy
leaves, emerged upon the surface of the
water. The rest WAS easy, for Billali was
an eminently practical individual, and had
the common sense rot to grasp hold Of me
as drowning people often do, so | got him
by the arm, and towed him to the bank,
through the mud of which we were with
difficulty dragged. Such a filthy spectacle
as we presented ! have never seen before
OF since, and it will perhaps give some idea
of the almost s%uperhuman dignity of Bill
lali's appearance when | say that, cough
ing. half drowned, and covered with mud
and green slime as he was, with his beau
tiful beard coming to a dripping point, like
y Chinaman's freshly-oiled pig-tail, he still
looked venerable and imposing.
"Ye Iogs!" he said, addressing the bear
ars, as soon as he had sufficiently recovered
10 speak; rye left me, your father, to
drown. Had it not been for this stranger,
my son the Baboon, assuredly | should
awe drowned. Well, / will remember it,"
and he fixed them with his cleaning
though slightly watery eye in a way saw
they did not like, though they tried to APP
pear sulkily Indifferent. "As for thee, my
SON." the old man went On, turning toward
me and grasping my hand, crest assured
that l am thy friend through good and
evil. Thou hast saved my life; ~perchance
a day may come whom shall save thine"
After that we cleaned ourselves as best
we could, fished out the litter, and went
on, minus the man who had been drowned.
/ don't know If it was owing 70 his being
an unpopular character, or from native in
difference and selfishness Of temperament,
but | am bound 10 say that nobody seemed
to grieve much over his sudden and final
disappearance, unless, perhaps, it was the
| men who had to do his share Of the work.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

edge of the water neither Of them was TO
be seen, and. indeed, the unfortunate bear
or never was seen again. Either he struck
his head against something, or got wedged
in the mud, or possibly the snake-bite par
alyled him, AT any rate, he vanished.
But though Billali was not to be seen, his
whereabouts was clear enough from the
agitation Of the floating litter, III the bear
ing cloth and curtains of which he was en-
tangled.
"He is therei Our father is there!" said
one Of the men; but he did not stir a finger
to help him, nor did any OF the others.
They simply stood aud stared at The water.
"Out of the way, you brutes!'' shouted
in English, and throwing OFF my hat, |
took u run and sprung well out into the
horrid slimy-looking pool. A couple Of
strokes took me to where Billali was strug-
CLING beneath the cloth.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24
that swelled upward

hat swelled upward in q succession OF
rolling waves. Just on the hither side OF
the crest Of the first wave we halted for
the night. My first act was to examine
Leo's condition. 1t was, If anything, worse
than in the morning, and a new and very
distressing feature, vomiting, set in, and
continued till dawn. Not one wink of
sleep did I get that night, for / passed it in
assisting Ustane, who was one Of the most
gentle and interchangeable nurses | ever saw,
to wait upon Leo and Job. However, the
air here was warm and genial without be.
ing too hot, and there were no mosquitoes
to speak of. Also we were above the level
of the marsh mist, which lay stretched be.
meath us like the dim smoke-pall over a
! city, lit up here and there by the wander
ing globes of fen fire. Thus it will be seen
that we were, speaking comparatively, in
clover.
BY lawn on the following morning Leo
was quite light-headed, and fancied that
he was divided into halves. / was dread.
fully distressed, and began to wonder with
a sort Of sick fear what the termination OF
the attack would be. Alasl | had heard
but too much of how these attacks gener.
ally terminate. As | was doing so Billali
came up and said that we must be getting
on, more especially as, in his opinion, IL
Leo did not reach somes spot where he could
be quiet and have proper nursing within
the next twelve hours, his life would only
be a matter Of a day or two. / could not
but agree with him; so we got him into
the litter, and started on, Ustane walking
by his sid to keep the flies off him, and
see that he did not throw himself out on to
the ground.
Within half an hour Of sunrise we had
reached the top Of the rise of which | nave
spoken, and q most beautiful view broke
upon our gaze. Beneath us was a rich
stretch Of country, verdant with grass and
lovely with foliage and flowers. In the
background. at a distance, so far as 1 could
judge, of some eighteen miles from where
we then stood, a huge and extraordinary
mountain rose abruptly from the plain.
The base Of this great mountain appeared
70 consist of a grassy slope, but rising from
this, i should say, from subsequent obser-
walton, at a height Of about five hundred
feet above the level of the plain, was a
most tremendous and absolutely precipit-
Gus wall of bare rock. quite twelve or ff
teen hundred feet In height. The shape of
the mountain, which was undoubtedly Of
volcanic origin, was round, and of course,
as only a segment of its circle was visible,
it was difficult to estimate its exact size,
which was enormous. / afterwaro discov-
cred that it could not cover less than fifty
square miles Of ground. Anything more
grand and imposing than the sight pre-
scented by this great natural castle, start
ing in solitary grandeur from the level Of
the plain, l never saw, and l suppose never
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

MONDAY, Sep. l2.--Afternoon session
-Leavitt's examination was continued.
His testimony was in reference to the
place he was standing when the shot
was fired, and in what direction he
ran. This finished the c~ross-examina-
ton, and Mr.. Marsh asked q few ques-
tons in reference to his visit to the
jail during Bismarck's confinement
there. In Il few moments Leavitt was
allowed to leave the stand. with the
promise that he would be allowed to
retur when Tredway returned.
Bismardck was called on the stand
following Leavitt, and his testimony
occupied almost the whole of the after
noon. He went through the whole
story of Treiber's dealings with him to
get him to whip DR.. Haddook. How
Ireiber, thinking that he (Bismarck)
was not strong enough, sest hnB TO
Granda to do the job, how Treiber
promised them $500 if they would whip
Haddock--give HIM a couple Of black
eyes and showed Bismarck where
Haddock lived; how on the night of the
murder Bismarck and Granda were
sent to watch Hadduck's house, and
how when they returned to the gang of
conspirators on Fourth street, the two
men were again sent to lie in wait at
the corner of Fourth and Water street;
how Bismarck went to inquire at the
stable if Haddock had got back; how
word was Sent to Junk's saloon of the
preachers return, and bow Munchrath
came out of Jur ks saloon with Arens-
dorf. Leavitt and the rest Of the crowd,
and hurried to meet Haddock. Bis
marck then described the scene of the
murder and told how as Haddock came
across the cossing of Water street,
A~rens6crf started away from the crowd
where the rest were lying in wait, and
when he met Hsddock shot him down
about twenty feet from the crowd.
Bismarck then went or to tell how he
and Paul Leader ran through the alley
rs Muncbra:h and the crowd ran In
other directions. and how the two hurri-
ed to Leaders hotel, the Milwaukee
house, and how he himself later went
home. The court adjourned over to
morning upon the conclusion of Bis
marck's testimony, shortly after D
o'clock.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

SoIUx CITY, Tuesday, Sept. s.
At the beginning Of court this morn-
ing. Bismarck was put on the stand
and in a short while excused, after
which RYAN followed, but could not
state that Munchrath was among a
gang which he noticed on the street
that evening. Chas. Hamilton, short
hand reporter, was put on the stand,
and read portions of Nun hrath's tesii-
mOny before the coroner's jury and
during the Arendsorf trial, identifying
it as the same transcribed by him. In
it Munchrath testified to being on the
street the night of the killing. Here
the state rested, and Mr.. Hamilton was
the first party to be put on the stand
for the defense. He read Leavitt's res-
timony during the Arensdorf trial. Mr..
Hamilton was not cross-examined.
Adolph Metz was put on the stand
for the defense. He was well acquaint-
ed with Bismarck. On the evening OF
the killing he saw him coming out Of a
saloon between Douglas and Pearl
streets, in a condition bordering on in
toxication. Saw him again the next
morning in his harness shop, where he
sat on a chair and went 10 sleep. He
said he had slept all night by a fence
and had not been at home. At the
time he came to his shop he was
not vet sober. His cross-examination
was very brief. Mr.. C~rnikshank, the
turnkey at the jail then testified. His
testimony was in reference to Bis
marck's stay in jail last winter. He
was present when Leavitt called to see
Bismarck. Leavitt said % Bismarck,
Hello! and Bismarck answered him.
His testimony WAS as to the conversa-
ton held between them, and "a to
the effect that they spoke for quite
awhile; that Bismarck said that his
wife had no money, and further IN
answer to a question of Leavitis,
answered. | did not see you shoot eh.
Leavitt SAID to C%ruikshank. Don't
let any of those brewer s. Of BIS
see him. In the afternoon of the same
day Leavitt did not say, Il have some
witnesses who will swear tn anything |
will tell" Crsss-rxamined. 1T was
not for five or six weeks after that the
conversation was mentioned. He had
not told any one about that conversa-
ton, until i.e testified, because Wood,
Leavitt and tho sheriff wanted TO keep
/. quiet. In q statement made before
LAWYER Grimm IN reference 10 the con-
versation, Wood, Leavitt and some
others being present, the witness
was not allowed TO tell the
whole story but was cut
short by Wood, who said that will do,
and Leavitt sent him after the cigars.
He never saw the affi lavit he testified
to until on the stand and he then saw
the statement had been tempered with.
Jshn Martin, of Mitchell, Dakota,
put on the stand testified in substance:
He was living here at the time OF the
killing, and on the day of the killing
had q conversation and MIR. LeavItt
used these words: These fellows have
no nerve; they ought to kill some OF
these s-of-b-; you watch me. ! will
stir them up. Lock at the temperance
orator, I had to square with him to get
him away" The conversation took
place near the Shepherd saloon on
Fourth street. Mr.. Martin was before
the grand jury Cross examined, the
question was pot, when did you quit
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24
SOMETHING NEW.

THURSDAY, Sept. l5.-Interest is
evidently waning in the Munchrath
trial. At this mornings opening
of court the attendance was
very slim. The evidence introduced
has been given to the public time and
time again. So far during the trial but
very few new witnesses have been in
troduced, and those who have been in
troduced have not afforded the public
any digestible matter to talk Of.
The fret witness on the stand this
morning was j. Nj. Simonson, who tes-
tilted to having called the meeting in
Holdenreids hall. He did not hear any
talk Of whipping Wood or Walker. He
had hired the hack which drove to the
G~reenville house.
w. l.. Leavitt was then recalled, and
swore a to the signature to his confess
sion made in Chicago. The confession
was then read to the jury.
A new witness in the person of Chas.
Ehlers was her introduced. He
is a house-mover, having lived
here for seventeen years. A
few days after the murder he saw
Leavitt and Bismarck holding a conf
Dental conversation in the alley on
north side of Fourth street. between
Pearl and Douglas street. 1t was
about noon. The men we're near
Chris. Heigleg's saloon.
Lsuis Seller was put on the stand
and testified that he was not AZ the
meetir 9 in Holdenreid's hall. 1t will
be remembered that Leavitt sworc ne
4
Paul Leader in his testimony did no.
offer anything new. Bismarck and
Leavitt did not walk together to the
scene of the killing after leaving Junks'
saloon. Bismarck walked with j. G..
Hart. He did not see the defendant
there. Leavitt jerked OFF Leaders hat
which was a straw one, and replaced
it with his own which was a gray stif
one. This evidence twas evidently
brought in to allow of time for the es-
tabIishment of an aIibp for the defend
ant.
Louis Agnes, a h~otelkeeper of Da-
kota City, testified to meeting Bis
marck after his return from California,
when the following conversation en-
sued:
Uellot Bismarck. How do you like
California?
Very well; | would have been there
now but for these fellows bringing me
back.
On. yes, ! see you are interested in
this murder case. 1t is strange TO me
that should testify against Arensdorf.
Did he do the shootingp
Bismarck answered in a low voice:
TO tell the truth, Louis, | was so drunk
| hardly know who did the killing.
Well, then. why did you testify
against him who has always been your
friendp
The answer was: To save my neck.
u being noon the court adjourned.
In the afternoon the testimony was
in 40 way exciting.
Charles Campbell, clerk at the Paci-
fc house, on the night of the tragedy
testified TO meeting the defendant on
the corner of Fourth and Pierce streets
about 10 O'Clock on the night of the
murder. and from there walked east to
Nebraska street. when Munchrath
started north as if going home.
Louis Agnes, who keeps a hotel at
Dakota City, Nebraska, testified that
Kosnltski, alias Bismarck, told him
that he (Bismarck) was too drunk on
the night of the murder to tell who
fired the shot, but laid it on Arnsdorf
to shield himself.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

keeping the gambling house known as
the red light in this cityP" He quit
keeping it three months ago. 1t was
located at 513l Fourth street. He had
been a bartender and had worked in a
gambling house for the past seven
years.
VIM. Metz, father of o.. Metz, the
harnessmaker, partly c~orroborated his
sons testimony.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr.. O'Meara, the "ttilsr, was the first
witness called at the commencement of
the afternoon session. Mr.. O'Meara
did not know Harry Leavitt. He had
a bad reputation for truth and veracity,
as we'll as to his moral character. Mr..
kiDgsnorth testified as did Mr..
O'Meara. As to Mr.. Munchrath, he
testified tina. the character of the de-
PENDANT was p%eaceable and law-abiding.
Characterization: He believed him
to be S l~aw-abiding citizen, although
running a saloon.
Mr.. Thomas j. Stone knew the de-
PENDANT since his childhood, and knew
him to have a general law abiding
character. About his keeping a bar
be did not know anything. Mr.. O'Con-
aell for the prosecution e~ndeavored to
have the witness testify as to his opin-
ion of a man running "a saloon, whether
or no he is a law abiding citizen. He
said. There could be circumstances
where a mar could sell liquor and still
be a law abiding citizen
Mr.. ID. T. Hedges was then put on
the stand. He gave the defendant a
good character.
Judge J. p. Allison was questioned
as to the defendants character. He
never heard anything either against
or for him
Several other prominent gentlemen
will be put en- the stand.
SOMETHING NEW.
Jos. Bersch, who at the time of the
killing neal the street car barns, testi-
tieS that since the Arensdorf trial he
told several people that Bismarck told
him he saw the shot fired, and that it
was not a saloon~keeper or German
who did il. asked why he dld not tell
this before; thought it was none Of his
bu.iupss
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

passed him, turmoil and fired; Arens-
dorf and Peters ran or the bridge.
X. McAllIster testified that ON the
night of the murder he. saw several
men run across the bridge NJ the corner
of Fourth and Water street.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24

The policeman who never arrests anybody
but little boys might be called . variety OF
e~ollarer iafantun.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-24
CHAPTER xI.-THE PLAIN OF KoR.

OUT an
hour be-
fore sun
down w e
at last, to
IN Y II n
bounded
graiuud
emerged
from the
)great belt
of marsh
on to land
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20
THE TEXAS EDITORS.

| The Texas editors will meet in Fort Worth
on the Path instant In this connection 1t may
be proper to.say that the editors and publishers
of Texas are a high toned set of gentlemen
They are intelligent, sober and patriotic. They
are also able and willing to pay their way. If
they have heretofore accepted free baneuets
and entertainments 1t was only because 1t
would have been rude and discourteous not to
have done so. We say this much because
occasional reflections, doubtless intended for
wit, have been cast upon the members of
the association. The modern editors of
successful papers are usually intelli-
gent business men and no more to be
considered subjects for charitable attentions
and special favors than any other class Of bust
ness men. We know that the old rule was for
the editor to be free pack horse for everybody
and, in turn. an object of charity. But old
things have passed away. The modern news
paper man charges fair price for his work
and pays his way like man. at least, this is
the rule. The few free lunch, free whisky, go
easy fellows that still hang onto the tall OF the
procession are being rapidly switched of and
the Texas editors of to- day will compare favor
ably with the leading men of any calling, not
excepting teachers, lawyers, preachers, doctors,
farmers or any others.-fGreenvills Banner.
The Banner speaks plain truth, and for
Fort Worth THE GAZETTE desires to say
that nothing done in this city next week
will indicate an impression among our
people that they are called on to minister
to the needs of mendicants. Fort Worth
appreciates the compliment implied in the
selection of this city as the place Of
meeting of men who have done
far more for Texas than Texas has done
for them, and in every legitimate manner
will seek to show these gentlemen of the
press that they are held in as high esteem !
by this people as would be any other class
of gentlemen gathered here. Fort Worth
will seek to honor itself in the manner of
its treatment OF men who are worthy
of all honorable treatment, and who are
not regarded by the people of this city as
8 lot of Bohemians on an annual spree.
Fort Worth will be glad to see the edl-
tors and to show them such courtesies as
gentlemen may accept without sacrifice of
or pride.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20

To THE surprise of everybody the
Jury in the case of the two
oil conspirators, on trial at Al
banY, n. Y, ocIIgl1 in a verdict Of
guilty. They were not directly connect
ed with the Standard Oil Company, but
they were defended by that company and
their conviction is universally esteemed
8 triumph of law over the mighty mon
opoly. Of course an appeal will be
taken. Law courts may succeed in con-
victing a millionaire now and then, but
execution is usually deferred until the
case is worn out. Already we learn that
one of the felons is in very poor health.
There is nothing definitely known to
science the matter with him; he is just
Suffering from a complication of dis
cases." 1t would be pity to send a sick
man to the penitentlary. The mere fact
that ne blew up the tanks of a rival oil
company is no argument fsvoring his
punishment. Of course not. The poor
gentleman should be given the freedom
of the city and be allowed to blow up
few more rival companies.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20

THE Fort Worth GAzETTE's piety turns to-
ward Thanksgiving. II says:
This is the Sabbath daT. Let US give thanks
for over 100 artesian wells and three ice fac
tories. Fort Worth may view the coming sum
mer with equanimity. Refreshed by cool
breezes and pure water, the city waits the fall
and-the boom in all its strength.
Thanks to whom? The well borers or the
Lord? The Fort seems to crow over Dallas on
account of the superiority of the water of the
former and to be proud of It's enterprise in
tapping the waters under the earth. But
thanks are due a kind Providence and
not a proud, presumptive people. When
the Israelites murmured against Moses on &C
count of the bitter waters of Marah, saying
"n hat shall we drink Moses cried unto the
Lord, and the Lord showed him tree which
he cast into the waters, and the waters were
made sweet. Again, at Rephidin there was no
water for the people to drink; they blamed
Moses, but he asked why they chided him, and
he cried to the Lord and was told to smile the
rock at Horeb while the Almighty stood by
him, and water should come out OF It. Moses
and his rod were but instruments of higher
power. There is a little too much of the Phari-
see in the way THE GAZETTE gives thanks
Galveston News.
Providence put the waters under the
COL Out IA4Sy nOu4O AhfC OId1u IuGIt
forever if this Fort Worth people had
been as some people are. Thank heaven
we are not as they are. Provi-
dence helps those who help them
selves, and Fort Worth helps itself to
all within reach, thank you, whether it is
an artesian well under the earth, or q
st. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railroad
on the earth. Providence makes iron
and trees and dirt, but Fort Worth pluck
gives the bonus for grsdiHg, ties and
rails. Fort Worth is godly city, and
gives thanks on each Sabbath day to
Providence for putting things where
pluck and Hberality and enterprise can
reach them. The Galveston End calls
Fort Worth Pharisee because one of our
neighbors is ssd, you see.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20
THE INTERSTATE Law.

Whatever may be the outcome of the
interstate commerce law Senator Reagan
is right, it must be conceded, in demand
ing it's enforcement. Just because it
affects large corporations is no reason
why It's provisions should be suspended.
The corporations are no more in the eyes
of the law than are individuals, and no
exception should be made in their favor.
The law, as passed, should be enforced,
no matter whom it benefits or Injuries.
The suspension of any section is prscti-
cally violation of the law, and these vios
lations will be watched and commented
upon by those who hail with delight
every incident which serves to bolster up
their claim that the rich can disregard all
laws with impunlty. We are surfeited
with arguments-able, plausible and elo-
quent srguments-showing why this
and that road should be ex-
empted from the operation of sec
ton four. We hear nothing, however,
from the people living along the lines of
these roads as to how they regard the
matter. The vox populi is presumed to
have expressed itself in the selection of
national lawmakers, and the whole peo-
pie are responsible for the laws enacted
by their agents in the national legislature.
If the law is wrong, faithful conformity
to its provisions will more speedily de-
monstrate the fact to the people than any
other method which can be pursued, and
the sooner it will be amended or repealed.
1t is only in special instances, however,
where exceptions from its operation are
sought to be obtained. The railroads,
with wonderful unanimity, have submit
ted and, without any perceptible loss to
themselves or T. tAe country, are conform
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20

THE horrors of the United States rev.
enue tax are graphically depicted by the
Nashville American. In column edito,
rial full of grief and indignation, that ex-
cellent journal tells US of the fate of 8
foreigner. He sold whisky without tax
ing out a revenue license; he was ar
rested and fined, and he was put in jail,
where he died. The story is not copy
one can tell it.